barton



H. E. w. BARTON.

, Postal-Card.

No. 225,319. Patented Mar. 9, 1889.

W/JZTQQOJS/QJJ v I Lwenfar:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM E. W. BARTON, OF VINELAND, NEW JERSEY.

POSTAL CARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 225,319, dated March 9, 1880.

Application filed. October 22, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM E. W. BARTON, of Vineland, in the county of Cumberland and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Postal Cards and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the .invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the front side. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the rear side; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the card partly folded for transmission.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like letters of reference.

This invention relates to return postal cards; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The front or message side of the card is divided by a central line, A, into two divisions,

-B O, intended, respectively, for the message and the reply, each of which said divisions may be provided with suitable printed instructions, substantially as indicated in the drawings. The upper and lower edges of the card are gummed, as shown at D D.

Transverse rows of perforations E E divide the card into three equal divisions, the object of said perforations being simply to permit the card to be readily folded in the proper places.

Upon the back of the lowermost division (or third) of the card instructions aretprinted for the sender of the card to write his own address before sending the card. The said division is then folded up toward the upper perforated line and covered by the upper flap, which is folded down, secured by the mucilage upon its edge, and provided with the address of the person for whom the message is intended.

Upon the back of the central division of the card any suitable design may be printed, together with the postage stamp or stamps.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the advantages of my improved postal card will be readily understood. The written matter of the message and reply cannot easily be read by outsiders; the return-direction being provided by the sender himself is sure to be correct, and the message and reply are both returned to the sender, who is thus enabled to preserve both for future reference.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Stater- The herein-described return postal card, consistin g of the rectangular card divided in three equal portions or sections by the two lines of indentations E E, the two outside sections of one side of the card being adapted to receive the address and return-address, the section between these two being provided with postage and return-postage, the reverse side being divided into two equal sections for the message and answer by the line A, the sections being adapted to so fold upon each other that the message, answer, and the address not in use shall be concealed within the folds, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HIRAM E. W. BARTON.

Witnesses:

Inns '1. VIRGIL, W. J. SMITH. 

